2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) is a virus (more specifically, a coronavirus) identified as the cause of an outbreak of respiratory illness first detected in Wuhan, China in December 2019. In the months since, the virus has spread to all seven continents, and is the most severe pandemic the world has faced in more than a century.
The COVID-19 pandemic is impacting our world in unprecedented ways. As the situation evolves, the University of San Diego remains focused on addressing two imperatives: ensuring that we take prudent precautions to protect our community and communities beyond our campus, and continuing to deliver a values-based, liberal arts education that prepares our students to address society’s most urgent challenges. This page provides resources and information to better undertstand the impact of COVID-19 globally, and answers frequently asked questions about the university's response to the pandemic.
USD Community COVID-19 Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) is a virus (more specifically, a coronavirus) identified as the cause of an outbreak of respiratory illness first detected in Wuhan, China in December 2019. Early on, many of the patients in Wuhan reportedly had some link to a large seafood and animal market, suggesting animal-to-person spread. However, the virus is now thought to spready mainly from person-to-person. COVID-19 is a new disease and we are still learning how it spreads, the severity of illness it causes and to what extent it may spread in the United States.
At this time, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have confirmed cases of the virus in various states in the US. The current count of US cases is available on the CDC website.
- Stay home from school and work
- Cover your cough
- Students should call the Student Health Center at (619) 260-4595 to discuss your symptoms and exposure.
- Employees should call your healthcare provider to discuss your symptoms and exposure.
- If you have traveled from an area with widespread or ongoing community spread of COVID-19, notify your health care provider at the time of your call. It is important to call before heading into a clinic so that your provider can be prepared for your visit.
Visit the CDC website to use the self-check tool to help you make decisions if you are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms.
The university has engaged Rady’s Children’s Hospital to provide mandatory COVID-19 testing in the Alcala Vista Parking Lot for all students living on campus and subsequent testing for students taking in-person classes.
This testing is independent from the San Diego County COVID-19 testing facility located in our West Storage Facility, which continues to provide testing to members of our campus community and surrounding communities through a priority testing model.
COVID-19 testing for faculty and staff is strongly recommended. Questions related to our new COVID-19 testing can be directed to Human Resources for faculty and staff and the Student Health Center for students. Faculty, staff and students who test positive for COVID-19 should follow the protocols outlined in our employee and student campus guidelines.
The CDC advises that the best way to prevent infection is to avoid being exposed to this virus.
In addition, we are asking the whole community to practice strong prevention strategies such as:
- washing hands often with soap and water for 20 seconds
- avoid touching eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands
- avoid sharing drinks and food
- avoid close contact with those who are sick
- stay home when you are sick
- cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash
- clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces
COVID-19 testing for faculty and staff is strongly recommended. Questions related to our new COVID-19 testing can be directed to Human Resources for faculty and staff and the Student Health Center for students. Faculty, staff and students who test positive for COVID-19 should follow the protocols outlined in our employee and student campus guidelines.
A pandemic is a term reserved for an infectious disease threatening lots of people all over the world simultaneously.
The World Health Organization (WHO) no longer formally labels an outbreak of disease a pandemic but says the term may be used "colloquially." With regards to the coronavirus outbreak, the WHO has already issued the highest warning it can by declaring the virus a global emergency. Its advice to countries — to limit the infections while preparing for wider spread — remains the same.
In the United States, a public health emergency declaration releases resources meant to handle an actual or potential public health crisis.
On Jan. 31, 2020, Health and Human Services Secretary Alex M. Azar II declared a public health emergency for the entire US to aid the nation's healthcare community in responding to 2019 novel coronavirus.
The emergency declaration gives state, tribal, and local health departments more flexibility to request that HHS authorize them to temporarily reassign state, local, and tribal personnel to respond to 2019-nCoV if their salaries normally are funded in whole or in part by Public Health Service Act programs. These personnel could assist with public health information campaigns and other response activities.
(Source: HHS.gov)
On Feb. 14, 2020, San Diego County declared a local and public health emergency in response to the novel coronavirus.
According to County Supervisor Nathan Fletcher, the move was taken “out of an abundance of caution” and not a response to an increased risk to residents.
By declaring an emergency, it gives the county access to available supplies and mutual aid and allows the county to better respond globally. It also allows the county to tap into state and federal emergency funds.
(Source: San Diego County)
Self-monitoring means people should monitor themselves for fever by taking their temperatures twice a day and remain alert for cough or difficulty breathing. If they feel feverish or develop measured fever, cough, or difficulty breathing during the self-monitoring period, they should self-isolate, limit contact with others, and seek advice by telephone from a healthcare provider or their local health department to determine whether medical evaluation is needed.
Self-isolation means the separation of a person or group of people known or reasonably believed to be infected with a communicable disease and potentially infectious from those who are not infected to prevent the spread of communicable disease.
Self-quarantine in general means the separation of a person or group of people reasonably believed to have been exposed to a communicable disease but not yet symptomatic, from others who have not been so exposed, to prevent the possible spread of the communicable disease.
Social distancing means remaining out of congregate settings, avoiding local public transportation (e.g., bus, subway, taxi, ride share), and maintaining distance (approximately 6 feet or 2 meters) from others.
(Source: CDC)